The Scarlet Letters

A different type of story

This book took us on an offshoot of an Ellery Queen mystery. It centers on the affair a wife was having and concludes with the husband trying to get revenge. The end did bring us the standard Queen resolution but I found it plodding to get to the end. Not a bad book but not a great one.

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It's an okay story, but not EQ's best.

I enjoyed the relationship between EQ and his secretary, but found the plot wanting. The criminal machinations in EQ novels are often quite improbable in their complexity, but enjoyable if you can slightly suspend of disbelief. In this case, though, I found the final explanation too improbable. But, if you've already read all of the better EQ mysteries (like "Cat of Nine Tails") and are still looking for more, then here's one.

Started off well but became weak by the end.

Started off fun it hit strange and eventually crept through 3 references to EQMM and the ending was like reading a newspaper in a heavy rain.

Unusual Queen story

Plotted within the relationships of Ellery his secretary and married friends who succumb to the pressures of marital trouble and infidelity and death ensues. Quite a different perspective that keeps you listening in a sort of puzzled apprehension. Recommended.

Excellent Edition to the Ellery Queen series

I have run every book in this book series in order, and to date, this is by far one of the best novels in the Ellery Queen series, I guarantee you will not figure it out until the very end when Ellery Queen explains it

Different, but dull

You know how when authors try something different, it almost never works? This is one of those cases. The books is 80% setup, and 20% actual case, with Ellery trying to figure out a dying man's message written in blood (literally scarlet letters). The trouble here is that the setup is long and dull, and it's hard to care about Dirk, who's an utter bastard, and even Martha. Why does she stay with this guy? SPOILER ALERT:
Dirk's plot is way too complicated, and it's a wonder Martha didn't ruin the whole thing by going to Ellery, who's her friend, and saying, "Hey, I'm being blackmailed by some guy who says my husband commited murder. Can you prove Dirk is innocent?" After all, this is the sort of thing Ellery DOES.
The ending does nearly make up for the long, boring setup, but I'm leaving the 3 stars out of the frustration I felt listening to all the whining.

Riviting

The store was great. The twist at the end was totally unexpected. The narration was very clear.

An Interesting Twist

An interesting twist of a detective novel. It shows great literary style. It does not have some of the regular Ellery Queen cast, but showcases some lesser characters. Well worth the listen for mystery fans.

Lost interest

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Loved Ellery Queen when I was a teenager, but had no connection with the characters.